A retirement send-off celebrating Janet F. Carlson, Ph.D., research professor and associate director for Test Reviews and Information at the Buros Center for Testing, will be held Wednesday, October 14 in the Buros Center Library, TEAC 23, from 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Dr. Carlson retires after more than 20 years at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, including more than 15 years as associate director in the Buros Center for Testing. During her tenure, she has overseen all aspects of test reviews and information and related print and electronic publications. She has been the primary technical and content editor of the four most recent Mental Measurements Yearbooks, and an editor of the three most recent editions of Tests in Print and the three most recent editions of Pruebas Publicadas en Español: An Index of Spanish Tests in Print. She has served twice as acting director of the Buros Center, guiding the Center and its Test Reviews and Information, Psychometric Consulting, and Assessment Literacy units. “I have been fortunate to work for so many years alongside like-minded colleagues who embrace the mission of the Buros Center and have sought new ways to improve and extend what we do,” said Carlson.
Carlson’s influence in the field extends beyond her work at Nebraska. A licensed clinical psychologist, certified school psychologist, and nationally recognized scholar, she has held numerous positions within the American Psychological Association, including president of APA’s Society for the Teaching of Psychology in 2009 and chair of the Division 5 Fellows Committee from 2023-24. She is a fellow of the American Educational Research Association and multiple APA divisions, including Quantitative and Qualitative Methods, Clinical Psychology, and the Society for the Teaching of Psychology.
Prior to her appointments at UNL, she was a tenured professor at Texas A & M University at Galveston and the State University of New York at Oswego. Her scholarship has addressed psychological assessment, testing, clinical psychology and the teaching of psychology. Her recent work includes research on ethics and fairness in psychological testing, the history of psychological testing in North America, regulatory practices in the assessment of homeschoolers, and the legacy of Oscar K. Buros and Luella Buros.
Teaching and mentoring have been another significant part of Carlson’s career. At Nebraska, she has taught graduate courses in psychological assessment, intelligence testing, ethics, personality, counseling, and related areas. She has also mentored graduate students and served on doctoral and master’s committees through the years.
Her professional involvement has included leadership in the Northeastern Educational Research Association, where she served as president from 1995-96, as well as extensive editorial, peer-review, and organizational work. She has contributed to national testing and assessment initiatives through organizations including Educational Testing Service, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the American Psychological Association. Across these roles, Carlson has advocated for responsible, ethical, and informed approaches to the use of assessments.
Carlson leaves a legacy spanning scholarship, professional leadership, and service. Through her work at the Buros Center, she has helped connect researchers, practitioners, and other assessment users with the information needed to understand and evaluate tests. Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to strengthening the science and practice of testing and supporting those who rely on sound assessment practices.